jurb26
Footballguy
Divisions should be eliminated or at least reformed.
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NFC playoffs could see a 5-11 team in and a 12-4 team out (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Raider Nation
- Start date
It is unfortunate that the Saints and Panthers have come unglued a year after being pretty solid. But you don't change anything due to one year. The Seahawks won it at 7-9 not that long ago and that division improved the next year. I also believe division games sell tickets and are preferred by the networks. Every game today is divisional.as are all Thursday night games to date. Also, division races keep more teams involved in the playoffs deeper into season.
I am a Saints fan and I don't see them winning again quite frankly. Of course, no one else is winning either. I am not sure what is wrong with Falcons. The Bucs just need some talent. The Panthers and Saints front office had a horrible offseason letting some key pieces leave without adequate replacements.
I am a Saints fan and I don't see them winning again quite frankly. Of course, no one else is winning either. I am not sure what is wrong with Falcons. The Bucs just need some talent. The Panthers and Saints front office had a horrible offseason letting some key pieces leave without adequate replacements.
Billy Bats
Footballguy
I like the idea but I think it should only be applied when the division winner has a worse record than their WC opponent or if same record then H2H if applicable. Yea congrats on winning your suckass division, your playoff spot is your reward for sucking less than the rest of your division. But if you have a worse record (or same record but lost H2H) than your WC opponent, pack your bags because you're traveling.FairWarning said:
Donnybrook
Footballguy
Go Tampa
I don't get why this is an issue. All divisons go in cycles of being crappy. Should we have punished the patriots all the years when no one was over 500 because they played inferior teams?
Nothing in the NFL is fair so you have to get over it and just win more.
FYI no one in East other than Pats have been over 500 in the last 3 years.
Also you could point to the NFC South having to face the AFC West as part of the reason they are in the toilet.
Nothing in the NFL is fair so you have to get over it and just win more.
FYI no one in East other than Pats have been over 500 in the last 3 years.
Also you could point to the NFC South having to face the AFC West as part of the reason they are in the toilet.
Niles Standish
Footballguy
It's very very unlikely a 5-11 team wins the division. Almost 0 chance. NO has a really easy schedule. So does Carolina. I imagine TB would have to go on a winning streak for 5-11 to even be possible since there are so many division games left.
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
He says in the article in the OP that this scenario is a longshot. I just thought the possibility was interesting.
Niles Standish
Footballguy
He says 12-4 out is a long shot he says 5-11 winning the division is entirely plausible. And it isn't. That being said it's interesting. I hope it happens, but it requires TB turning into the top team the next few weeks and NO and Carolina losing to teams even worse than they are. Atl could plausibly finish 4-12 or 5-11. But NO and Car would need something crazy to happen. For both it's almost impossible,
msudaisy26
Footballguy
There is an easy fix for all of this.
Rule 1. Each division winner gets into the playoffs, except when a division cannot field a winner that has won at least 8 games. In this case the vacated playoff spot would go to the next team with the best record unless the next best record not in the playoffs doesn't have at least 8 wins, then the playoff spot goes back to the division winner.
2. All playoff seeding will be done by records. If you have the second best record in the conference you will have the second seed, even if the best record was in your division. The higher seed will always host the playoff game.
3 tie breakers will be the same as always except the second tie breaker will be division winners. So head to head first, then division winner, then however it is now.
4. Teams can make the playoffs with a losing record, but only if the are one of the top 6 teams or however large the field is.
5. Losing teams can host a playoff game, if and only if the team they are playing has a worse record or the same record and they own the tiebreakers.
All these rules would ensure that the division rivalries stay intact, while the best teams are the teams with a chance to go to the Super Bowl. It also rewards the best teams with home games and rewards division winners with a playoff berth, but doesn't reward average or poor division winners a second reward with a playoff berth and home game.
Rule 1. Each division winner gets into the playoffs, except when a division cannot field a winner that has won at least 8 games. In this case the vacated playoff spot would go to the next team with the best record unless the next best record not in the playoffs doesn't have at least 8 wins, then the playoff spot goes back to the division winner.
2. All playoff seeding will be done by records. If you have the second best record in the conference you will have the second seed, even if the best record was in your division. The higher seed will always host the playoff game.
3 tie breakers will be the same as always except the second tie breaker will be division winners. So head to head first, then division winner, then however it is now.
4. Teams can make the playoffs with a losing record, but only if the are one of the top 6 teams or however large the field is.
5. Losing teams can host a playoff game, if and only if the team they are playing has a worse record or the same record and they own the tiebreakers.
All these rules would ensure that the division rivalries stay intact, while the best teams are the teams with a chance to go to the Super Bowl. It also rewards the best teams with home games and rewards division winners with a playoff berth, but doesn't reward average or poor division winners a second reward with a playoff berth and home game.
Kool-Aid Larry
Footballguy
do you realize you're talking about 3 and 4 win teams?
do they have the 2008 lions coming to town right before they play the generals?
as mentioned, there are a bunch of divisional games that make 5 wins unlikely, but 6 wins is on the table, so is 6 - 10 so much better?
Kool-Aid Larry
Footballguy
it's almost impossible for carolina to lose more than 2 games of these remaining?
@MIN @NO TB CLE @ATL
I'd say the crazy thing happening would be if they manage to win 3 of these
they just won 3 of their last 11, but now they're a lock to win 3 of the next 5?
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Wingnut
Footballguy
I like this system.
Mr. Retukes
Footballguy
What if a team finishes 7-6-3?
Speaking of ties, it's actually possible for a 4-win team to make the playoffs:
link
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msudaisy26
Footballguy
Lol that is why I said 8 wins. In such a scenario though the NFL would have to adopt new overtime rules the next season to combat so many tie games.What if a team finishes 7-6-3?
Speaking of ties, it's actually possible for a 4-win team to make the playoffs:
link
Niles Standish
Footballguy
There was an and there. That said 5-11 can no longer win the division after NO won.
Donnybrook
Footballguy
Packers 9-3
Lions 8-4
Eagles 9-3
Cowboys 8-4
Cardinals 9-3
Seahawks8-4
49ers 7-5
It going to be interesting to find which two teams are going to be eliminated from playoffs. 49ers and Dallas look like they are the underdogs now.
Lions 8-4
Eagles 9-3
Cowboys 8-4
Cardinals 9-3
Seahawks8-4
49ers 7-5
It going to be interesting to find which two teams are going to be eliminated from playoffs. 49ers and Dallas look like they are the underdogs now.
ShamrockPride
Footballguy
You can't ignore division winners just cause they have a bad record. When you do that you alienate an entire geographical area of your fanbase (as the NFL). It's just a bad business decision.
Mr. Retukes
Footballguy
The 2-10 Buccaneers are still mathematically alive (although they would need Atlanta and New Orleans to tie in week 16).
It's also mathematically possible for both Atlanta and New Orleans to make the playoffs (but again, only if they tie in Week 16).
The Rams are still alive, as are the Bears and Vikings.
It's also mathematically possible for both Atlanta and New Orleans to make the playoffs (but again, only if they tie in Week 16).
The Rams are still alive, as are the Bears and Vikings.
Kilgore
Footballguy
How would you do scheduling. Right now, NFL scheduling is totally systematic and perfect. If you have 7 other teams in your division, who do you play twice? Who do you play once?
Kool-Aid Larry
Footballguy
KC @STL SEA @SFshadyridr said:
seattle gets:
@PHI SF @ARI STL
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This. It's perfectly reasonable to require a .500 record to be "playoff eligible"
jurb26
Footballguy
Man, I feel bad for Arz fans... If there are any. This team is just getting killed by the injury bug. They could have been the #1 seed but at this point I agree, I don't know they get in at all.
shadyridr
Footballguy
Joe Summer
Footballguy
Keep the same schedule. Have 2 divisions per conference, with each division being split into 2 "sub divisions" that resemble the current alignment.
Mr. Retukes
Footballguy
With 3 weeks to go it's still possible for a 5-win team to win the NFC South. :X
Craig_MiamiFL
Footballguy
Don't think an NFC team can finish 12-4 and not make playoffs (9-4 Dallas/Philly still play each other) but point taken.
Cardinals clinch playoff spot this weekend so long as Dallas/Philly don't tie.
Cardinals clinch playoff spot this weekend so long as Dallas/Philly don't tie.
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
shadyridr
Footballguy
lol how do they do it?
jurb26
Footballguy
Why should Arz get the 5 seed when they are the 1 seed now?
Loss to Seattle and it drops them to a wildcard. I dont see Arizona beating Seattle and I have Seattle winning out in my mind. Sad but true was really hoping for Seattle to a be a Wild Card or miss the playoffs. Anything is possible but with the lack of scoring by Arizona and another new QB think they come up short.
jurb26
Footballguy
They get Sea at home. I think they win that game. Injuries and all.
You may think so, but I doubt Vegas is going to agree with that sentiment. My guess is that if Stanton's confirmed out and Seattle suffers no major injuries on Sunday, they'll be a -250 or greater money-line favorite when the window opens on Tuesday.
Shutout
Footballguy
How quickly we forget. It was just a couple of years ago when Seattle had no place in the playoffs according to most and all they did was host and beat a Saints team that appeared absolutely unstoppable.
That's why they play the games as the man says.
But all in all, Kool_aid Larry hit the nail on the head at the top of the thread. It won't change because they need the divisions to maintain interest deep into the season and that means money. When the answer to the question is "because it helps the NFL's revenue stream", the question no longer matters.
In fantasy world, we see it as logical to change it but these are real players, organizations, fan bases, etc, and teams do get hot/cold, take on injuries, weather becomes a factor, etc.
If I was ONLY a rabid fan of a team living in a city where my team played, I wouldn't want it any other way. Even if my team is 5-9, if that means I am still in the hunt, that is what I want. It would be bad for my fandom and my local economy if there were just two conferences and my team was already eliminated.
Interesting to me that everyone wanting to suggest a different alignment seems to gravitate to two-16 team conferences. If divisions don't matter, conferences don't either. Just line up 32 teams in the league wit the top 12 making the playoffs. When you carry the ideas that extreme, you quickly see how boring this would be to half of your fanbase.
That's why they play the games as the man says.
But all in all, Kool_aid Larry hit the nail on the head at the top of the thread. It won't change because they need the divisions to maintain interest deep into the season and that means money. When the answer to the question is "because it helps the NFL's revenue stream", the question no longer matters.
In fantasy world, we see it as logical to change it but these are real players, organizations, fan bases, etc, and teams do get hot/cold, take on injuries, weather becomes a factor, etc.
If I was ONLY a rabid fan of a team living in a city where my team played, I wouldn't want it any other way. Even if my team is 5-9, if that means I am still in the hunt, that is what I want. It would be bad for my fandom and my local economy if there were just two conferences and my team was already eliminated.
Interesting to me that everyone wanting to suggest a different alignment seems to gravitate to two-16 team conferences. If divisions don't matter, conferences don't either. Just line up 32 teams in the league wit the top 12 making the playoffs. When you carry the ideas that extreme, you quickly see how boring this would be to half of your fanbase.
jurb26
Footballguy
Am I supposed to care about what the Vegas line or other people think? I fully expect the Vegas line to favor Sea.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
I feel bad for Cardinal fans. This was a serious Super Bowl contender if Palmer was healthy
biju
Footballguy
I know this most likely isn't going to turn into a fruitful discussion, but what part of that 19-3 game makes you think the Cardinals will put up more than 10 or so points with Lindley? (I put it at 10 because I doubt the Seahawks are held to less than 13.)
I think Lindley was lucky he didn't have 2-3 INTs last night and a more formidable secondary takes those. Add to that the Cards running woes and I think that team is in big trouble regardless of venue.
VikingFrog
Footballguy
I agree with most of what you said, but the Cards ran for a pretty big chunk of yards last night. Didn't really turn into points though. But they had 143 yards on the ground.
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Master of Past and Present
Footballguy
Not defending the division but with Atlanta-Carolina playing next week, either the Falcons equal Seattle's 7-9 or Carolina will go with a slightly better 7-8-1. Either way breaking new ground has been likely avoided (Panthers could go with 6-8-2)
Mr. Retukes
Footballguy
The only "new ground" is that the sub-.500 division winner was confirmed a week before the season ended. In 2010, it was still possible to have an 8-8 winner up to the last week of the season.
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